Chunibala Devi

Chunibala Devi

Views: 4625

Category: Cinema

Chunibala Devi Profile

  • Name:
  • Chunibala Devi

Chunibala Devi Biography

Chunibala Devi was a film and theatre artist associated with Bengali cinema and stage. She is best known for playing the old aunt, Indira Thakrun, to Apu and Durga in the first installment of Satyajith Ray’s Apu Trilogy - Pather Panchali. A landmark movie of Indian cinema, it marked the debut of Ray as a director alongside a string of new and less experienced artists including actors and crew, using a very tight budget. In the 1930s she has appeared in a few films and Pather Panchali was her last film. When she appeared in the movie, she was already 80+ and her death scene is one of the heart touching moments of this classic film.

 

Quite surprising, she died before the theatre release of the movie. But film’s director showed the film using a projector at her home. When the movie got released, it became an iconic movie of Indian cinema, which was shown at many international film festivals. Also Chunibala Devi became the first Indian to win an award in the best actor/actress category in an international film festival when she was awarded at The Manila Film festival. But unfortunately she died before the award was declared.

 

Chunibala Devi was born in 1875. She was quite active in theatre life, at a time when women rarely associated with theatre. Chunibala Devi made her film debut with Bigraha in 1930. Later she appeared in the movies - Rikta (1939), Natir Pujo (1932) and after a long break - Pather Panchali, which marked her final release. She came into the limelight after 30 years of obscurity and her role is regarded as iconic, as it represented the poverty with great intense.

 

Chunibala Devi was 80 when she signed the film and she was allowed a daily salary of above 20 rupees for every working day. She allowed her hair to be sheared mercilessly and be draped in a piece of tore cloth to fit her best into the character of Indira Thakrun. When Ray ran short of money the movie was seized for almost 2 years. Once resumed, she shot her iconic death sequence with which she wrapped up her film role. She died of influenza in 1955 before the release of the film.

Published: N/A

Updated: April 03, 2016

Famous People: By Profession

 
 

Suggest Alaya Furniturewala profile update

captcha image (Can't see? refresh)